COLUMN: Save our beaches — from no trespassing signs

I live on Barracuda Street here in Destin and have been a homeowner since 1989. Our house was the first house built on our block, and we are the only owners. We became residents in 2010 after 21 years of trying. I believe that gives me a right to have an opinion about our beaches!

This morning my blood pressure hit a new level.

I took a stroll to the beach today to see what was working in the surf. What I found was the commercial chair and tent crowd setting up the beach chairs along the edge of the beach, right at the wet line. To add insult to injury, they posted “no trespassing” signs along the line running south from the beach walkover to the water’s edge and along the front of the chairs and tents  — at the edge of the beach!

When I asked the guy setting the signs up, he said, “there is nothing I can do about it.” I do not believe he enjoyed his job when it came to the signs. This was not his fight.

My question to the public is, “What kind of message are we sending from the city of Destin?”

I think the message is “You may come to Destin, but if you rent a house off of the beach, you may not really be able to use it.”

I believe this is so completely insulting to the city of Destin, Okaloosa County and the visitors to our community, that these signs — and all signs on the beach — need to be outlawed by the city of Destin or the county, whoever considers themselves in charge.

Law enforcement folks are called to make people move off of their property at a time when they are probably overworked on much more serious matters. I have been told by the city that law enforcement personnel will not bother anyone within 25 feet of the “wet line.” Not the case! Some people in the house next to us were told to move, and they were within the supposedly safe zone.

Let the homeowners do their own dirty work!

I have spoken with folks at city hall, and I believe they looked into it. But I have not heard back. I know it is a serious issue with them.

This sign setting is trashy! It is as insulting as leaving trash on the beach, which is definitely not confined to off-beach visitors. It is totally demeaning to what is thought to be one of the most beautiful beaches to visit in the country.

I suggest to the sign-wielding townhome owners that they remember when they or their tenants take their dogs down Barracuda Street to "poop" them, we do not say a thing. We just expect them to clean up after them. We do not post signs.

Maybe we simply need to do something on a national level to let people know just how friendly this area can become given the opportunity.

My wife and I intend to spend the rest of our lives here in this little cottage, and I have a lot of time on my hands and need a little challenge outside of fishing. This may be the opportunity I have been looking for.

Let’s REALLY “save our beaches!”

Maybe a bunch of us could wear thongs and swim only in front of these signs for a while. That couldn’t be much uglier than the signs. That ought to clear the beaches real quick.

John Dyer is a Destin resident.